Kerry calls on Russia to push Ukraine separatists to disarm in "next hours"

Thursday, June 26, 2014 - 00:50

U.S. Secretary of State Kerry says that Russia should call on separatists in Ukraine to disarm within ''the next hours''. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.

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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the clock is ticking in Ukraine and that Russia needs to call on separatists in Ukraine to disarm immediately.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY SAYING:
"Ukraine, we are in full agreement that it is critical for Russia to show in the next hours, literally, that they are moving to help disarm the separatists, to encourage them to disarm, to call on them to lay down their weapons and to begin to become part of a legitimate political process."
Washington and other Western powers have stepped up pressure on Russia to take concrete action to defuse the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where a truce between Russian-speaking rebels and government forces has appeared to crumble.

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